RDA faces council funding uncertainty

Berri Barmera Council has indicated its present position is to withdraw funding for Regional Development Australia Murraylands and Riverland.

Renmark Paringa and Loxton Waikerie councils have yet to decide whether they will provide funding.

Councils in the Murraylands have indicated they will continue to fund the association.

In October the RDA requested increased funding from each of the three Riverland councils as its current funding arrangement ceases at the end of June, 2013.

Berri Barmera Council was asked to provide about $45,000, almost double its annual contribution in past years.

At its meeting on Tuesday night council unanimously moved that:

"RDA be advised that subject to the outcome of further discussions between council and the RDA, council's current position would be the withdrawal of funding for the board."

Council moved that the funding request be considered during its 2013/14 budget discussions.

Failed funding applications

Councillor Trevor Chapple said additional funding for the RDA would come at the cost of other services.

Cr Chapple said the Berri Barmera district needed new development but that previous applications had been unsuccessful despite backing from the RDA.

"Facilities still need upgrading and the funding council are investing in the RDA could be reallocated to the upgrades," he said in a written report to council.

"There is no doubt that with a decline in population, an unemployment rate almost two per cent higher than the state average and several empty factories, the Berri Barmera area needs investment."

Councillor Andrew Kassebaum told the meeting the funding request was an example of "cost-shifting from state to local government".

"How can they look people in the eye and say we've achieved something," Cr Kassebaum said.

"If not for [Riverland] Futures Fund, then the RDA has done very little for the region."

Regional development presence

RDA chief executive Brenton Lewis said he was still hopeful of securing funding from each of the Riverland councils.

"Firstly I would have to say it [the Berri Barmera Council motion] is disappointing, but council did indicate when we presented to them that they might like us to come back and have a forum," Mr Lewis said.

"Given the opportunity to meet, we will certainly do that and see where it takes us."

Mr Lewis said the RDA would need to review its regional presence if local government funding was reduced.

"To be honest I didn't really expect that I would be in this position at this time," he said.

"The Federal Government contract with RDA Murrayalnds and Riverland requires us to have a regional presence so on that alone we would attempt to do the best we could to have representation.

"But if we're not funded, the level of that representation would definitely be diminished from what we are able to do today with full funding."

RDA Murraylands and Riverland faces funding limbo after Berri Barmera Council indicated that, subject to further discussions, it would not continue to fund the board
(Catherine Heuzenroeder - ABC Local)